News Other Than The Malaysian Airplane *Open Thread*

I don’t know about you, but I am seriously overloaded with the constant focus on the missing airplane. Is it important? Sure. But from the get-go, it has been a lot of speculation that turned out to be wrong. Consequently, they wasted a lot of air time, and our time, on a story based primarily on conjecture rather than data. Now we know a whole lot more, like that the pilots likely are behind the hijacking of this plane. Um, yeah.

And it is a bit hard to understand how this plane so easily has escaped detection. That is just a tad disconcerting, isn’t it? I am sure we will be hearing more about this, too, in the future, but it sure makes what we thought we knew about the safety of flying a bit more questionable.

But there is more going on in the world. Let me preface this by saying that we are having some renovation done right now (replacing the deck and railings), so with the power tools, hammering, and banging going on, it is a bit hard to hear myself think. So, if there are grievous errors, I apologize up front. And don’t be surprised if I am brief.

[…]In defending his rejection of tuition aid to undocumented immigrants, Buffalo Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti said he was mindful that many “legal families are struggling with the high cost of college education right now.”

Illegal immigrants who can prove New York state residency are eligible for lower in-state tuition rates.

The Democratic-controlled State Assembly had passed the aid bill in February and challenged the Senate to act on the legislation, The Oneida Daily Dispatch reported.

At the time, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “These are children who are here. They are here not so much by their own choice, they are here. They know no other country, in most instances, and they should be treated like every other student that we have in our schools today. That’s the issue here.”

Only California, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington grant state financial aid to undocumented immigrants, the (NY) Times reported. […] (Click here to read the rest.)

Isn’t it a little disturbing that people who are here illegally are allowed to have in-state tuition? When I was in college and in seminary, I worked in the Admissions Office, and in Financial Aid. Students HAD to prove they were citizens, usually with a birth certificate. How has it changed so much that illegal immigrants can even get IN to an institution of higher learning, much less receiving in-state tuition, and aid in four states?? Mind boggling. But hey, at least the NY Senate took the right stand, so there’s that.

Meanwhile, on the Obamacare front, the deadline is looming for enrollment. Naturally, the party line is that this is going SWIMMINGLY – people cannot WAIT to enroll! So far, there are 5 million people signed up and we *only* need 2 million more!

Right. And just how many people have PAID for that coverage? That is the question. The answer? A shrug of the shoulders and a mumbled, “I dunno.” The Daily Caller has more:

[…]A blog post from Marilyn Tavenner, director of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, boasts 5 million sign-ups so far. The administration has updated the enrollment tally twice a month since millions of customers were required to pay their premiums, but officials have declined yet again to disclose payment information.

Monday’s unscheduled update revealed that the administration can now count 5 million selected plans on Obamacare exchanges across the country — 1 million in California alone. It’s a desperately needed coup for the administration, which is two weeks away from the final enrollment deadline.

But like Tavenner’s other surprise enrollment updates, the blog post is devoid of details or statistics. Instead, it’s chock full of stories about those who were so happy to receive Obamacare that they cried.[…]

Uh huh. Like so much from this Administration, long on emotional stories, short on facts and data. So the actual numbers of people who have PAID for their enrollment is nothing but speculation. The Daily Caller continues:

As of January, customers that paid have been using their Obamacare insurance. But the Obama administration continues to say it doesn’t know how many have paid their premiums.

The best estimates come from consulting firms’ studies of data from insurance companies. Goldman Sachs’ latest indicates that 80 percent of the number the White House has advertised will follow through and purchase their coverage; McKinsey estimates only 77 percent. Such a record would bring that 5 million down to 3.85-4 million instead. (Click here to read the rest.)

In other words, not exactly the story the Obama Administration is telling us. And not for nothing, we have paid a GAZILLION dollars for this law and its implementation. With all of the changes Obama has made all by his own self, who the hell knows what is due when, for whom, how much, etc., etc.? Just ridiculous. And to think the Democrats assailed the Republicans when the latter wanted to postpone implementation for a year…

Finally, looks like Crimea is now part of Russia, according to this New York Times article. Yep, Putin has signed the treaty making it so, and has basically thumbed his nose at the hollow threats by Obama. Awesome.

Well, the demolition is ratcheting up so I’m outta here for now. It’s up to you now, and this is an Open Thread.

38 Responses to “News Other Than The Malaysian Airplane *Open Thread*”

Glad to hear I am not the only one who is tired of the “missing plane” coverage. It isn’t even coverage – it’s speculation. And I am tired beyond all telling of the endless speculation. I am sorry for the people on the plane and for their families. That doesn’tmean that “speculation” about what happened should take up the majority of time on every “news” cast. “Speculation” isn’t news.

I don’t think “illegal” aliens should be eligible for anything. What part of “illegal” gives these people the right to take advantage of what is meant for the citizens, and “legal” immigrants?

We will never be able to deport these millions of criminals in our midst but why make it pleasanter for them to stay? I feel we should make it so unpleasant that they self-deport. At least some of them.

I also find myself indifferent to the goings on in the Crimea. We cannot, should not police everything in the world. We shouldn’t even try. If the EU, which has proximity and reasons to be concerned with this ploy by Putin won’t – why should we?

Wow, great comment, Marge! Yes, I feel very sorry for the families, and I cannot IMAGINE how difficult, how painful, and how frustrating this is for them. But the speculation doesn’t help them, or us. Facts, people – that’s what will matter…

Exactly right. You said it. Why are we making it so much easier? I happened to catch Kansas AG Kris Kobach today clarifying the numbers of how many deportations have REALLY happened under this Administration. He said it is more like a “Catch and Release” program at the border rather than deporting people who are already here. And he is representing a number of ICE officers who are being told to break the law by NOT deporting people. Uh, yeah…

Great point abt Crimea, too. I think Obama is just trying to look tough. WAY too late for that…

I echo your excellent comments about the coverage of the missing plane. I feel terribly sorry for the families and I can’t imagine what it was like for the people on the plane.

It is pathetic how the MSM cover this, including FOX. I saw a member of a panel on Megyn Kelly’s show last night trying to explain the left turn of the plane as completely understandable if the pilots realized they had a problem and were trying to return to the airport of origin. He was dismissed and I realized that was because his position wasn’t sensational enough. I actually thought Megyn Kelly would pass out from hyperventilation.

CNN had a supposed news show on Sunday, the day of the Crimea vote, and they had about 40 minutes coverage of the plane, 2 minutes on Crimea and 2 minutes on something else. It’s disgusting.

I actually find myself a bit amused by the Crimea situation. Russian TV had a segment on showing clips of Obama praising others for “declaring their independence” in Kosovo and Yemen (I think, could have been Ethiopia – can’t really remember). Bottom line for me is: anything that shows what a loser Obama is is ok with me.

Katherine, I heard some folks making a bit of fun of CNN this morning in terms of their coverage (I believe Kurtz said they were covering it 26 – yes, 26 – hrs a day). But Fox hasn’t been much better. Thank heavens for a Red Sox v. Yankees Spring Training game on ESPN this afternoon! 🙂

I was wondering when people were going to start highlighting how Obama has been supporting the independence of other countries/people, even when it meant aligning themselves with a terrorist group like the Muslim Brotherhood, compared to what he is saying abt Crimea. Just a tad of hypocrisy. Why has he left Syria alone, then? How is what has happened in Syria ANY better than Crimea deciding to align itself with Russia? I mean, really – NO ONE died in Crimea. No one.

Obama simply cannot have it both ways, and it is abt time someone started calling him on it, even if it is Russian tv.

This is incredibly disconcerting, Helen. As it is, most of the agencies have received an F for not fulfilling their FOIA requests (can you imagine had Sarah Palin and the Alaska Governor’s office NOT fulfilled theirs in a timely fashion?!). But to learn that the Administration RE-WROTE this law is horrendous.

That is so wrong in so many ways. If obamacare is any good why would you have to bribe someone? And does Obama think he’s the King Of The USA that he can promise to break our laws? Oh wait, he does it all the time and the gutless congress does nothing.

Of all the things he should be grateful for the first and foremost should be the corrupt media that doesn’t even report on his crimes.

You got that right, Marge. They’ve been talking on the news recently abt how Obama has had to pull in the “cool kids” to try and sell this monstrosity to young people. But as people keep saying, if this thing is SO good, why are the overtures, the (illegal) changes, the bribing, and all of that even necessary??

I still cannot believe we now live in a country where our gov’t can dictate to us what we HAVE to buy, whether we want it, need it, or both. Just incredible.

And Helen, The Hill piece (referred to in WeaselZippers) is just more proof of how lousy this is, and how much they lied to us abt it…

I just read a headline that Biden was in Poland to reassure them of U.S. support. How would this be reassuring???? First of all, it is BIDEN and secondly this is the same country from which Obama couldn’t wait to pull a missile defense system in his first term in office. How would you like to be Poland, Moldova or other parts of eastern Ukraine – not to mention Israel?

Isn’t THAT a scary damn thought? When I heard earlier today that Biden was over there for that purpose, I just shook my head in disbelief. BIDEN?? Oh, yeah – that should really inspire confidence, huh?

Helen, thanks for the links on Michelle taking everyone to China on our dime. It is really astonishing the amts of money she/they spend on these vacations. Love that they are now trying to frame it as “soft” work. Uh huh. Sure.

Good. GRIEF. This is just unbelievable, Helen. WOW. Seriously, from the very top on down, it seems our country has contracted some kind of amnesia abt what these groups have done to us and are still trying to do to us. Just astonishing. Just SMH…

One article that caught my attention this week is an estimate that by 2040, there will be 79.7 million older adults in this country….more than twice as many as in 2000. It is predicted that hunger and lack of adequate nutrition among seniors will have a profound impact on social agencies.
We have a national debt that causes heart palpitations, no economic growth, and a shrinking work-force, but hard-core partisans opine that prosperity is just around the corner. Yep!

I also read that State Department data indicates that as many as 17,500 slaves are smuggled into this country each year. These people are forced to work as prostitutes, farm workers, or domestic servants in isolated situations. Jackson, Sharpton, and millionaire jocks don’t advocate for those unfortunates.
American media deserves to be implicated in the erosion of public trust, but that same public has no excuse for their failure to elect leaders with the ability and inclination to lead and protect this country. We won’t be playing “second fiddle”, but much lower on the scale.